The Church Year

Rather like the cycle of the natural year with its various moods and senses, the Church Year is made up of different Seasons and Festivals.

We would stress that throughout the year Christians rejoice that Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, was born and lived among us, died on the Cross, rose to new life and ascended into heaven, to restore our broken relationship with God our Father.  And EVERY Sunday, whatever the Season, is observed as the ‘weekly Easter Sunday’.

The ordered pattern of seasons which comprise the Church’s Liturgical Year are a help to Christians in remembering and celebrating the key points of our faith through the course of the year, deepening our appreciation of the particular events and their meanings, the ‘mysteries of Christ’.

Each of the Church’s Seasons has its own liturgical colour to highlight its mood and meaning.

The Church’s Year’s Seasons are ADVENT (purple), CHRISTMAS (white/gold), LENT (purple), EASTER (white/gold) and ORDINARY TIME (green), with various particular or additional Feasts.

The first ‘half’ of the Church’s Year, the period from Advent to Pentecost, concentrates on the main events in the story of Jesus Christ – from expectancy of his coming, his birth, death, resurrection and ascension into heaven, to the birth of the Church with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the 50th day of Easter.

The second ‘half’ of the Church’s Year, the period from after Pentecost until the next Advent, concentrates on the ministry and teaching of Jesus Christ. It is known as ‘Ordinary Time’ (which really means ‘General Season’).

(There is also a short period of ‘Ordinary Time’ between the Seasons of Christmas and Lent.)

Holy Week is the week leading up to Easter, in which the Church celebrates dramatically the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

PALM SUNDAY – Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, greeted by the crowds waving palm branches.

MAUNDY THURSDAY – The Last Supper, institution of the Eucharist, Christ washing the disciples’ feet, watching in Gethsemane and betrayal.

GOOD FRIDAY – The Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

HOLY SATURDAY/EASTER EVE – By ancient custom, the sacraments are not celebrated during the day Holy Saturday.  But as Holy Saturday moves into becoming Easter Eve, the most important Service of the Church Year takes place, the EASTER VIGIL, completing the Paschal Triduum.  – Blessing of the new fire and Paschal Candle, symbolising the new life of Christ, Bible readings recounting salvation history, Blessing the baptismal waters of the Font and renewing baptismal commitment, the first Eucharist of Easter.

(These great three days are together known as THE PASCHAL TRIDUUM.)

Easter is the most important feast of the Christian Church, celebrating the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

EASTER SUNDAY is not just a ‘stand alone’ feast, but begins the Easter Octave or ‘week of Easter Days’.  The Easter Season lasts 50 days, from Easter Sunday until Pentecost.

Easter Sunday is a ‘moveable feast’ – its date varies each year, according to the phases of the moon. This is to connect it with the original Passover of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection.

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD – 40 days after Easter Sunday, Ascension Day commemorates the ascension of the risen Christ into heaven.

PENTECOST – The word ‘Pentecost’ dervies from the Greek for ’50 days’. Pentecost is the 50th day of Easter, and commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit onto the disciples, and the birth of the Christian Church.

The Deposition from the Cross (Gerard David)

The Resurrection (Piero della Francesco)